Dear Chess Friends,

I am writing to inform you about an opportunity to improve the status of chess throughout Britain.

A petition has been put onto the Prime Ministers website seeking the recognition of all Mind Sports as a Sport. The link is provided below. David Anderton is at present working on a detailed submission to the department responsible for recognition at Sport England and the closing date is March 31st. The English Bridge Union will also submit an application. ECF would like to demonstrate how many people support the campaign so I am asking you all to sign up to the petition by following the simple instructions on the site. Please do this as soon as possible. Please also pass this message to anyone you know who has an interest in any of the many Board games that are played today. The issue is really quite simple, the recognition that Mind Sports and Physical Sports should have equal status in a modern society. We are all conversant with the comment 'a healthy Mind and a healthy Body'.

Please go to this website to sign the petition http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Mindsports/

Yours sincerely,

Gerry Walsh
President English Chess Federation